Aldi looks to expand into West End

The no-frills German supermarket chain Aldi is waiting for approval to expand into the inner-city suburb of West End where it hopes to trade 24 hours a day.

The company lodged an application with Brisbane City Council to develop a store on the corner of Montague Road and Victoria Street in April last year, continuing its quest to draw customers away from industry heavyweights Coles and Woolworths.

You will now receive updates fromSpencer Howson AM / PM Newsletter

Spencer Howson AM / PM Newsletter

The company, which is controlled by a reclusive family in Germany that tries to keep its profitability confidential, has invested almost $200 million in its Australian operations since 2011.

Yet the retailer is in the process of increasing its capital investment in Australia to more than $2.5 billion after deciding to expand from the eastern states into South Australia and Western Australia.

According to a recent Choice survey, a basket of mainly private label groceries at Aldi is on average 25 per cent cheaper than a similar basket of branded groceries sold in Woolworths and Coles.